July 30 Service about White Privilege

One of our Unitarian Universalist principles is to note the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The basic fundamental truth about white privilege is that if you can't see it, then you are most likely benefiting from it. It is a reflection of the fact that you can walk through certain places without hindrance knowing full well that if your skin were a different color, you would be watched very carefully and maybe even questioned intensely.

Let me digress. When the super storm Sandy struck the East Coast of the United States, certain Senators from southern states refused to vote for relief for those disadvantaged citizens of the country. It was like someone said "Flood victims matter" and the senators from these southern states responded with "no, all citizens matter." That is how it is when we say "Black Lives Matter" and the response is "no, all lives matter." When we restore the dignity and worth of flood victims, we restore the dignity and worth of all citizens. When we restore the dignity and worth of our black citizens, then all citizens will matter. And, of course, it is supremely ironic that the southern states that these senators represent now find themselves flooded and disadvantaged. Now, suddenly, they want flood victims to matter.

And finally, this: Seek not love, seek rather to remove from yourself all of its obstacles.